An exchange of gunfire at a high school basketball game in suburban Nashville on Tuesday night left one girl dead and one girl in critical condition, and left a suspect in custody, according to law enforcement officials. The girls and a male witness were shot, but the victim who died was the male witness, officials said.
The altercation at Rutherford County High School had been preceded by a fight at an earlier game, according to Nashville Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron. The game was in progress when the shooting occurred. School officials, law enforcement and local law enforcement were working together to identify the shooter.
School officials evacuated the school and kept the remaining students inside, according to reports. Afterward, Nashville Metro police posted a video on social media of officers carrying out a handgun.
#Breaking News: Officers on scene and conducting an investigation at area Rutherford County High School. We thank our fans, students, parents and community members for their support at this time pic.twitter.com/knGEyUs1l7 — Nashville Police Dept (@MNPDNashville) November 13, 2018
In an interview with CNN, Aaron confirmed that a 16-year-old girl was killed and that a 15-year-old girl had been arrested. Aaron said the suspect appeared to be in his late teens.
A cellphone video posted to social media by a witness appears to show a suspect running away from school grounds.
#Breaking: Man running away from an active shooting scene at Rutherford County High School just outside Nashville, TN.
This is his video feed. pic.twitter.com/wO09zSzvQJ — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) November 13, 2018
Prior to Tuesday night’s violence, Nashville, Tenn., was the latest city to feel the deadly grip of gun violence.